Clinton edges Obama with $35M in the bank

Washington, D.C.  Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton ended September with more money in the bank than rival Barack Obama, holding $35 million cash on hand for the presidential primary contests to his $32 million.

Both were far ahead of Republican money leader Rudy Giuliani, underscoring the financial disparity between the parties. Giuliani reported $11.6 million in the bank for the primaries.

Clinton, who had trailed Obama in fundraising and in money in the bank at the end of June, edged past him with an aggressive third quarter of fundraising.

Obama had not yet filed a detailed report of his third-quarter finances with the Federal Election Commission.

Clinton, who also has been raising money for the general election, had a total of $50 million in the bank, her campaign said Monday night. But $15 million of that cannot be used for the primaries.